Flexible submersible panel for pool formed with elongated hollow elements and corresponding use

ABSTRACT

Submersible panel ( 2 ) for pools, particularly swimming pools ( 1 ), consisting of hollow, elongated, modular parts ( 2   a,    2   b,    2   c,    2   d,    2   e,    2   f,    2   g,    2   h ) assembled together. The parts comprise a water inlet at one end and a water outlet at the other. The openings of the panel are connected either directly or indirectly to means for distributing compressed gas. 
     The edges of said panel ( 1 ) more or less match the walls of the pool to constitute a pool cover in the upper position and at least one bottom in the submerged position. 
     The upper and lower horizontal surfaces of the panel are plane and free, the measurements of said upper horizontal surface being more or less equal to the length of the pool which is suitable for constituting the cover in the upper position and at least two bottom levels of the pool in the submerged position. 
     Use of the panel ( 1 ) to constitute the bottom of the pool.

Flexible submersible pool panel consisting of hollow, elongated, modularparts and the use thereof.

The present invention relates to a flexible submersible pool panel,particularly for swimming pools, consisting of modular hollow, elongatedparts assembled together.

More precisely, it relates to a panel consisting of parts comprising awater inlet at one end and a water outlet at the other, said openingslocated on the forward sides facing the panel being connected eitherdirectly or indirectly by a distributor tube.

Swimming pool covers that float between two bodies of water and thatconsist of hollow parts connected with specially shaped connectors tofulfill this function have already been described in German patent DE 3324 406 (G. Stifter).

According to the above-mentioned patent the hollow parts comprise acover, a base and continuous uprights to define the hollows.Furthermore, the cover is connected to a reversible pump that is in factan hydraulic pump.

Consequently, the function of these hollow parts is to provide watercurrents internally in one direction and then the other. This isillustrated by the special shape of the connectors consisting offlexible pipes that constitute not only the hydraulic but also themechanical joint with small serrated sleeves made of an elasticmaterial.

Consequently, the panels are torn off if excessive force is applied.

It is therefore necessary to use small hollow parts. In order for thecover to be large enough to cover a pool said cover always includesseveral of these small hollow parts connected end-to-end via saidelastic connectors. Consequently, the cover includes a multitude ofjoints between said parts.

The movements of each hollow part result from the internal, random watercurrents. The density of the hollow parts is therefore approximately thesame as or greater than that of the pool water and the movements areopposite to one another. This leads to a risk of tearing occurring atthe joints, or at least relative movement between the hollow parts. Theuse of elastic connectors is required in addition to the small hollowparts.

In as far as the covers are concerned this leads to difficulties inensuring the safety of the pool. The small hollow parts, the density ofwhich is approximately that of water, are unable to bear a child'sweight, particularly in or around the joints. These parts are thereforeonly used as a cover and do not protect against drowning.

The second problem with known covers is that they are difficult toclean. In the event of the covers being fastened elastically end-to-endeach joint defines a groove on the surface of the cover. Incompletecleaning of the grooves enables bacteria to proliferate. Furthermore,repetitive complicated cleaning movements lead to wear on the cover.

Also, for all movements, whether ascending or descending, as the hollowparts are supplied with water the entire distributor tube is locatedunder the cover in order to connect said cover to a pump fitted in aspecific housing at the bottom of the pool, with all the buildingdifficulties this implies.

The aim of the invention is to provide a panel capable in itself ofwithstanding a child's weight to ensure safety, that is fitted easilywithout requiring any work at the bottom of the pool to embed a turbineand enable effective cleaning of the surface by means of compressed gasbeing distributed, particularly air from a pump such as a tube, asection of which passes above the hollow, elongated, modular parts ofthe panel of the invention and above the surface of the pool and anothersection of which passes under the surface of the pool. In particular,the means for distributing gas comprise an aerial distributing tubesection that may be connected directly to a submerged tube section forintroducing compressed gas that may be connected directly to the hollow,elongated, modular part. This joint, which may be direct, is disposedunderneath or on top of the sides of the modular part. The edges of saidpanel more or less match the walls of the pool to constitute a poolcover in the upper position and at least one bottom in the submergedposition.

Panels constituting covers of this type are described, for example, inEuropean patent application No. 0 044 104. These known submersiblepanels consist of several hollow, modular parts fastened together.According to one version the hollow part of each section defines afloodable, leaktight cavity. The cavity fills with water from the poolincreasing the weight of each part and causing the panels to sink. Thecavities of the various parts are connected to a source of compressedair that enables the water to be drained from the cavities under thepressure of the air. The drainage of the water lightens the parts andcauses the panels to rise to the surface. The panels that float to thesurface constitute a cover for the pool when the water is drained awayfrom said cavities.

The panels have the advantage of stirring the water when they aresubmerged which homogenizes the water, provides a constant temperatureand removes the bacteria that usually accumulate in the corners and atthe edges. In the out-of-the-water position, i.e. when it constitutes acover, the panel insulates the pool water from the outside air thusmaintaining the pool temperature and economizing energy.

However, these known panels have drawbacks, particularly in as far ascleaning is concerned, as they are fastened to the fixed bottom of thepool by cables and various mechanisms, the lower surface of the panelpossibly being provided with hinged feet to enable the panel to stop inan intermediate position on said unfolded feet. All these mechanismsimpede the passage of cleaning robots and require access under the panelfor them to be put into operation. They also complicate panel assemblyby requiring special fittings.

In order to avoid special fitting work and to eliminate bacteria whileenabling effective cleaning of the pool to be performed without wear,the upper and lower horizontal surfaces of said panel according to theinvention are flat and free. The measurements of said upper horizontalsurface are more or less equal to the length of the pool and saidsurface is suitable for constituting the cover in the upper position andat least two bottom levels of the pool in the submerged position.

In order for the panel in the lower submerged position to cover thebottom of the pool and avoid a smooth external coating being applied,such as tiling for swimming pools, including pools with several levels,for example for swimming pools with large and small pools separated by asloped plane, the parts of the panel are connected end-to-end by atleast one hinged, mechanical joint that is double-mounted with at leastone flexible pipe that constitutes a leaktight connection between thehollow section of said parts.

This avoids the panel, in its position of covering the fixed bottom ofthe pool, having a bulge at the edge indicating the change of the poolbottom level, a bulge which would create a siphon effect in the poolwater.

To this end, as the pool is sufficiently large to have several bottomlevels, the measurements of a single horizontal panel are more or lessequal to the length of the pool and can constitute the pool bottom in alower position, each individual part or one that is assembled end-to-endhas at least one other part that constitutes the length of said panel.

According to another characteristic the panel joint comprises ahorizontal axle that is locked and fastened in two flanges that extendthe end of a part such that it is fixed, said axle being held such thatit is free to rotate and prevented from performing a translationmovement in the aperture of another flange that extends the next partsuch that it is fixed and such that, when in the lower position, thepanel assumes the shape of the pool bottom on either side of the edgemarking the change in level.

The air entering the cavities must be sufficiently compressed to forceout the water. The air has a tendency to be distributed along one sideof the panel if said panel is wide. This raises the side in which theair is directed while the other side remains full of water. If the poolis three meters deep the panel tips and the lower section is subjectedto considerable pressure of three bar, the air-filled section is raisedand the panel breaks as it rises to the surface.

In order to avoid the panel from tipping and breaking, it consiststransversally of at least one fixed assembly of several hollow, modularparts in which the forward side of the panel comprises a manifold tosupply each of the parts of an end of the panel with gas from at leastone nozzle connected by a central pipe to the tube that introducescompressed gas, the horizontal piping of the manifold comprising a waterinlet and/or outlet opening at each end and comprising at least onevalve capable of adjusting the flow-rate of fluid of each of the endopenings.

Maintaining the panel in a horizontal position enables it to stop at anintermediate level to create a shallow pool, despite the absence of feetunder the free lower surface.

To enable the panel to rise and remain horizontal under the pressurebalance between the air and water present in the cavities, the manifold,which is capable of supplying each part of an end of the panel with gas,is itself supplied with at least two sources of compressed gas such thatit creates two fluid circuits, a valve being disposed on the centralpipe between the two fluid circuits such that it homogenizes thepressure between the two circuits.

In order to simplify manufacture and provide the panel with a planesurface up to the wall of the swimming pool the central pipe and pipesupply nozzles of the manifold are disposed horizontally in the axis ofthe hollow, modular parts and are protected with a cover such that thepanel is constituted by the modular parts and the manifold.

In order to facilitate maintenance and enable the use of the entiresurface of the panel a bracket-shaped cover that protects the manifoldand maintains a downwards opening is fastened to the surface of theparts by at least one screw.

The invention also relates to a vertical guiding device for any of thesubmersible, flexible panels described above. The device ischaracterized in that, working from the bottom of said pool, it extendsabove the surface of the pool and constitutes at least one concaveridge, in particular constituted by rigid tubes, above said pool. Thevertical section of the device has an external surface that constitutesa free, smooth guiding surface to enable the panel to rise. The deviceis fastened to the ground near the pool.

This device, with its free guiding surface and stop, guides the panelwhen it rises without said panel damaging the walls and edge of the poolby falling back once it has emerged.

According to other characteristics:

the rigid sections of the device constitute at least two stops that aremore or less aligned at the same level above said pool,

the panel constituting a submersible pool cover is characterized in thatthe tube for introducing compressed gas has a rigid section thatconstitutes the guiding and stop section of a device in compliance withthat described above,

the panel comprises rigid, vertical guiding means with a stop comprisinga rigid, vertical submersible section positioned symmetrically to thesection including the tube for introducing compressed gas along the sameforward wall of the pool.

The invention also relates to a method for guiding the rising of a panelthat constitutes a submersible cover such as those described above,characterized in that the cover rises in the pool full of liquid when itis filled with compressed gas that evacuates the liquid contained in thehollow, tubular parts and is guided freely by sliding on an externalsurface of at least one rigid vertical part that extends from thesurface to the bottom of the pool, said cover emerging out of the liquidand being stopped by a stop disposed on the vertical part above thesurface of the pool and then falling back onto the surface to cover theliquid.

The invention also relates to the use of a panel, in compliance withthose described above, for regulating the pressure in said submersiblepanel by means of valves such that said panel stops to constitute thebottom of the pool at the required depth.

A non-limitative example of an embodiment of the invention is describedbelow and refers to the attached figures where:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a pool equipped with the panel of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the pool of FIG. 1 in which the panel is inthe lower submerged position;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a manifold provided with pressure balancingvalves connected to the hollow parts of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a manifold fastened horizontally in theaxis of the modular parts;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section through a vertical guiding device for a panelof the invention.

The pool of FIG. 1 is covered with a panel 1 consisting of varioushollow sections 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d, 2 e, 2 f, 2 g, 2 h and a manifold 3covered with a cap 4. Laterally, the hollow sections, which are bracedlengthwise, are clipped together using the tongue and groove principleof assembling until the length of the pool is obtained. The ends aresealed by end-caps that are clipped together and bonded 2 i.Longitudinally, the sections are connected together with a hinged joint5. These hollow sections are leaktight and comprise water inlets 6 onthe forward end. Air inlets 7 are disposed on the rear end. Hinged joint5 connects these parts end-to-end with at least one mechanical hinge 8that is double-mounted with a flexible pipe 9 connecting the hollowsection of said parts such that it is leaktight from water inlets 6 ofthe various hollow sections 2 a, 2 c, 2 e, 2 g to air inlets 7 of thevarious hollow sections 2 b, 2 d, 2 f, 2 h. The rear section of the poolcomprises a small bath and the forward section a large pool. The twopools are separated by a sloped plane the upper limit of whichconstitutes an edge where the small bath begins. Panel 1 is submersibleand can descend from the surface to the fixed bottom of the pool, asshown in FIG. 2. The various hollow sections 2 a, 2 c, 2 e, 2 g coverthe bottom of the small bath and constitute a covering, the hinged jointenabling the upper section of the hollow sections 2 b, 2 d, 2 f, 2 h toform a slope. The angle of incline of these parts gradually reduces,detaching them from the sloped plane and they come to lie on the bottomof the large bath up to the front of the swimming pool. A large surfaceof panel 1 lies on the bottom of the large bath, while at the other endthe panel lies over the entire bottom of the small bath.

As shown in FIG. 3 manifold 3 is supplied with compressed air via twoflexible tubes 10 that come from a source of compressed air P. Thesetubes 10 open into a central pipe 11 of manifold 3. Flexible tubes 12connect central pipe 11 to air inlets 7 of the various hollow sections 2a, 2 c, 2 e, 2 g. As manifold 3 is supplied with compressed air from thetwo flexible tubes 10, panel 1 comprises two fluid circuits. A valve 13is mounted in the middle of central pipe 11 to connect the two fluidcircuits together. Each end of central pipe 12 is fitted with an openingthat opens into the pool. This opening is controlled by valves 14. Whenpanel 1 rises under the effect of the compressed air inlet valves 13, 14are sufficiently large to maintain the pressure balance over the entirewidth of the panel in proportion to the pressure resulting from thedepth. Panel 1 can rise regularly and even stop at an intermediatehorizontal position.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the rear part of panel 1 showing the end ofa hollow section part 2 to which manifold 3 is connected. Said manifold3 is flat, the axes of its various tubes and pipes lying in the sameplane. Sleeve 15 constitutes mechanical fastening means to maintain theplane of the axes of manifold 3 in the same plane as the axes of hollowsections 2. Sleeve 15 is held in the end of hollow sections 2 by screws16. Each rigid end 17 of flexible air inlet tubes 10 is housed in sleeve15 and passes through an opening 18 in hollow section part 2. The farend of tube 10 is connected to central pipe 11 of manifold 3. Cover 4 ismore or less parallel to the plane of the axes of the pipes and tubes ofmanifold 3 and hollow sections 2. Cover 4 is fastened to hollow sections2 and covers manifold 3. The end of the cover 3 is bent downward in abracket shape. Panel 1 therefore has a free plane upper surface parallelto the plane containing the axes of manifold 3 and hollow sections 2.The bracket shape of cover 4 enables it to cover the visible top andrear surface of manifold 3.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the free guiding device 19 of panel 1consisting of hollow sections 2 extended by sleeve 3. Compressor P isconnected to panel 1 by pipe 10.

Pipe 10 has a flexible section 20 that reaches from panel 1 to thebottom of the pool and is extended by a straight, vertical, rigidsection 21.

Vertical section 21 rises above the pool and is extended by a section22, which is also rigid and overhangs the rear end of the pool and panel1 forming a concave ridge. Section 22 of pipe 10 is extended by asection 23 connected to compressor P. Pipe 10 is fastened by feet 24that are screwed to the floor with screws 25.

It is unnecessary to go into the pool to install free guiding device 19.Flexible section 20 of pipe 10 enables panel 1 to remain connected tocompressor P even when it has descended to the bottom of the pool. Rigidsection 21 of pipe 10 prevents impacts between panel 1 and the rear wallof the pool. Concave ridge 22 and the upper section of rigid section 21prevent panel 1 from rising too high and falling back onto the ground atthe edge of the pool.

In one version it is possible to install another vertical guiding bar,at the same time as the rigid section of the pipe, that also has aconcave ridge above the pool and that prevents panel 1 from pivotingaround rigid section 21 of pipe 10, particularly when only one of saidpipes is installed for small pools.

Panel 1 of the invention operates as follows: when valves 13, 14 closethey create a balance between the atmospheric pressure and the waterpressure of the pool. Consequently, the water cannot enter hollowsections 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d, 2 e, 2 f, 2 g, 10, 2 h and panel 1 floatsto the surface of the pool. In this position, panel 1 constitutes acover that insulates the pool water from the outside air thiseconomizing energy and providing safety from drowning as the cover canbear the weight of several people.

Panel 1 is submerged when valves 15 open. Opening the valves causes theair contained in the sections to be released and water to flow inthrough the end openings of central pipe 12 of manifold 3. Panel 1 isheld in the lateral horizontal position by adjusting valve 13. Hollowsections 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d, 2 e, 2 f, 2 g, 2 h are gradually filledwith water. One end of panel 1 begins to submerge. In order to create ashallow pool, for example for baby swimmers, it is possible to stoppanel 1 at this intermediate level constituting the bottom at the levelselected by closing valves 14. Valve 13 maintains the balance of thepanel. To obtain a deep pool with large and small baths, valves 13 areleft open and hollow sections 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d, 2 e, 2 f, 2 g, 2 hcontinue to be filled with water. Panel 1 finally lies on the fixedbottom of the pool. The hinge enables joint 5 to cover the edge of thebottom of the pool and panel 1 to cover the fixed bottom of the smallbath without creating a bulge that would cause a siphon effect. Afterjoint 5 panel 1 descends in a decreasing slope towards the fixed bottomof the large bath.

Compressed air is blown by turbines P in hollow sections 2 a, 2 b, 2 c,2 d, 2 e, 2 f, 2 g, 2 h to raise panel 1 to the surface. The air forcesthe water out and the panel begins to rise. Valves 13 act as gates andit is therefore possible to stop panel 1 in an intermediate position inwhich it constitutes the bottom of a shallow pool. It is also possibleto raise panel 1 until it rises out of the water. It floats on thesurface and constitutes a cover over the pool.

The thermal insulation of panel 1 is excellent due to the air containedin hollow sections 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d, 2 e, 2 f, 2 g, 2 h.

The leaktightness of panel 1 totally prevents evaporation andsignificantly reduces heat losses due to temperature variations, windand water/air exchanges.

Energy and temperature savings are considerable in open-air swimmingpools when panel 1 is totally submerged due to the absorption qualitiesof the pool, particularly when the panel is dark in color.

In large pools, for example a fifty-meter swimming pool, joint 5 enableshollow sections 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d, 2 e, 2 f, 2 g, 2 h, which are lessthan twenty-five meters long, to be transported and assembled at theedge of the pool, which simplifies handling operations.

Even though the invention has been described in relation with specificstructures it is non-limitative and may exist in a number of version,for example in combination of embodiments shown in the figures ordescribed above or include several joints, particularly for pools ofcomplicated shapes with several convex or concave edges, and stillremain within the scope of the invention.

The sole aim of the reference numbers given after the technicalcharacteristics in the claims is to provide a clearer understanding ofsaid claims and in no way limits their scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A submersible panel for a swimming pool filledwith water, comprising: a panel assembly including a plurality of hollowand elongated panel parts assembled together, the panel assemblydefining an upper and lower surface, both the upper and lower surfacesbeing plane and free, the panel assembly being configure to be at leastpartially filled with water from the pool and to be at least partiallyevacuated by compressed gas to form a pool cover covering a surface ofthe water in the pool when at least partially filled with the compressedgas and at least one submerged pool bottom at a selectable depth in thepool when at least partially filled with pool water, the plurality ofassembled panels parts defining a first fluid circuit and a second fluidcircuit; a manifold coupled to the panel assembly, the manifold beingconfigured to selectively admit at least compressed gas into the panelassembly, the manifold including a first valve that is configured tocouple the first fluid circuit to the second fluid circuit and tohomogenize a pressure between the first and second fluid circuits; acompressed gas supply means coupled to the manifold, the compressed gassupply means being effective to selectively supply the compressed gas tothe panel assembly through the manifold and to at least partiallyevacuate water contained in the assembled plurality of panel parts tocause the panel assembly to be selectively and at least partially filledwith compressed gas or pool water.
 2. The panel of claim 1, wherein atleast some of the panel parts are connected together end-to-end by atleast one hinged mechanical joint, the at least one hinged mechanicaljoint being doubled-mounted with at least one flexible pipe that forms aleaktight connection between the connected panel parts.
 3. The panel ofclaim 2, wherein the joint includes a horizontal axle that is configuredto enable rotation and to prevent translation of the connected panelparts.
 4. The panel of claim 1, further including a second valve and athird valve, the second valve coupling the first fluid circuit to thewater of the pool and the third valve coupling the second fluid circuitto the water of the pool.
 5. The panel of claim 1, wherein the manifoldincludes a plurality of valves configured to homogenize a pressurebetween the first and second fluid circuits, to selectively admitcompressed gas into the first and second fluid circuits and toselectively admit water from the pool in the first and second fluidcircuits.
 6. The panel of claim 5, further including a central pipeinterconnecting the plurality of valves and wherein the central pipe andthe plurality of valves are axially aligned with the plurality ofassembled panel parts.
 7. The panel of claim 1, further comprising amanifold cover configured to cover the manifold.
 8. The panel of claim7, wherein the manifold cover is bracket shaped and defines adownward-facing opening that is configured to be fastened to a surfaceof the panel assembly by at least one screw.
 9. The panel of claim 1,wherein the manifold is effective to adjust pressure within theplurality of assembled panel parts so as to enable at least a portion ofthe panel to remain submerged in water at a selected depth in the poolor float on a surface of the water in the pool.
 10. The panel of claim9, wherein the selected depth ranges from just under the surface of thewater to the bottom of the pool.
 11. The panel of claim 1, furthercomprising a vertical part that extends from a surface of the water ofthe pool to the bottom of the pool, the panel assembly being furtherconfigured to freely slide against the vertical part.
 12. Method ofraising and lowering a panel assembly within a swimming pool filled withwater, comprising: providing a panel assembly that includes plurality ofhollow and elongated parts that define a fist fluid circuit and a secondfluid circuit, the panel assembly being configured to enable compressedgas and the pool water to be admitted therein; providing means forselectively supplying compressed gas to and evacuating compressed gasfrom the panel assembly; providing means for selectively admitting poolwater into the panel assembly and evacuating pool water from the panelassembly, and supplying compressed gas to the panel assembly toselectively raise the panel assembly within the swimming pool andcausing a corresponding evacuation of pool water from the panelassembly; admitting pool water into the panel assembly to selectivelylower the panel assembly within the swimming pool and causing acorresponding evacuation of compressed gas from the panel assembly, andhomogenizing a pressure in the first fluid circuit and a pressure in thesecond fluid circuit.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprisingselectively varying an amount of compressed gas and water supplied toand admitted into the panel assembly to selectively raise or lower thepanel within the swimming pool to a selected depth, the selected depthranging from a surface of the water in the pool to a bottom of the pool.14. The method of claim 12, further comprising sliding against a rigidvertical part that extends form a surface of the water in the pool to abottom of the pool during the selective raising and lowering steps. 15.The method of claim 14, further comprising providing a stop on thevertical part and wherein the selective raising step is effective toraise the panel assembly until the panel reaches the stop, wherein uponreaching the stop, the panel assembly falls back onto the surface of thewater of the pool.